Report: Crawley Town 0-2 Millwall

Crawley

0

2

Millwall

MILLWALL kicked off their pre-season campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Crawley Town at the Broadfield Stadium.

22 different Lions players were given valuable match action as goals from Jermaine Easter and Dany N'Guessan saw the Lions brush past the League One side.

Former Reading defender Nicky Shorey, one of three free agents currently training with Millwall, played the opening 45 minutes at left-back, with Shane Lowry absent through a quad injury.

Steve Lomas partnered Steve Morison and Easter up front in a 4-4-2 formation, with new signing Lee Martin playing on the left side of midfield.

The Lions carved out an early half-chance when Shorey stabbed the ball through to Easter on the byline, but the striker's cut-back was too deep for the onrushing James Henry.

But the visitors broke the deadlock when Martin cut infield and whipped an inswinging cross onto the head of Easter, who glanced the ball in the far corner.

In the 32nd minute, Alan Dunne flashed a header just wide from Shorey's corner but chances were at a premium for both sides.

Crawley's best opportunity of the opening half came when left-back Mat Sadler advanced to the edge of the area and blazed narrowly over the bar.

Lomas made 11 substitutions at half-time, with John Paintsil and Lee Croft both given a chance to impress, whilst club captain Paul Robinson made his first appearance since September after a long injury lay-off.

After John Marquis had charged down goalkeeper Paul Jones' clearance, the loose ball fell to N'Guessan, who skipped past one challenge but then took a heavy touch and Jones was able to reclaim possession.

Reds striker Jamie Proctor almost drew the home side level when he weaved his way into a shooting position 20 yards out, but he fired over.

Marquis had two efforts on goal in quick succession at the other end; first stinging the palms of replacement 'keeper Jonathan Maddison from a tight angle, before heading wide from Scott Malone's cross.

Billy Clarke tested new Lions stopper Stephen Bywater for the first time with a tame strike that the former Sheffield Wednesday man held onto with ease in the 70th minute.

But it was soon 2-0 when Marquis fed Feeney, who dug out the perfect cross for N'Guessan to head in at the far post from little more than a yard out.

Josh Wright nearly added a spectacular third goal when he caught hold of a sweet half-volley on the edge of the area that Maddison did well to divert over his bar.

N'Guessan's late effort was saved as Millwall were forced to settle for just the two goals.

@Millwall1979: 1979 I am well past playing age but it was the cross from Fenny that made that goal, I could have stuck that in DNG did not need to move (no change there then) to head it in. He needs to do a lot more if he is to get into the starting line up from Aug 3.

Brilliant start! well done SL and all the team, these pre season friendlies are never easy but obviously -although I was not there- it sounds as if there was plenty of enthusiasm in the team. Very early days, and most players only got 45 min maybe SL is going to work some magic with the more maligned players. With Easter and N'Guessan getting on the end of crosses it just might portend for a brighter season.

And who said DNG was a bone idle sod !...... it sounds like Lee Martin had an encouraging 1st half to be fair. Hopefully no injuries to worry about. I'm looking forward to Brentford Tues night cos I'm going. COYL

Well done boys. Great start against a good team and a clean sheet too which is the secret. Glad to see Robbo back in the mix and the new boys doing well. No mention of Moro though! Sounds like he had a quiet 45mins? He needs to do well for us this season. Still......its only his first outing I guess. Best not be too harsh on him! Ha! Just as well they only played 45mins each. Its f*****g roasting today!

Well done boys. Great start against a good team and a clean sheet too which is the secret. Glad to see Robbo back in the mix and the new boys doing well. No mention of Moro though! Sounds like he had a quiet 45mins? He needs to do well for us this season. Still......its only his first outing I guess. Best not be too harsh on him! Ha! Just as well they only played 45mins each given the conditions today.

Great result. We often don't do well in these friendlies. Interesting line-ups with what I personally perceive to be the strongest in the first half. Now.....Chaplow please asap and then Waghorn. We'd almost be there with a good first eleven if those two become Millwall.

See my later post copied from London 24.
Chaplow looks very likely, probably waititng for his cheque from Southampton to clear.
Waghorn, Davies, Bailey and others that we haven't heard about yet....who knows ? But we do need a quality striker and I personally think Lomas will splash the cash to get what he perceives to be the right man.

I was well pleased to see Easter on the scoresheet. The times i saw him last season i thought he got into some good positions but failed to get his eye in on goal. Very suprised to see N'Guessan on the sheet. I'm not a fan and have been a big critic, but if Lomas can get a tune out of him i will happily eat my words and vote for Lomas in the next general election. 🙂